Drone

Drones are autonomous robots developed by the Chimera. They are first seen in Resistance 2. Drones are typically flying automatons and are generally weak to firearms. However, they are more effective in large numbers and are mostly used by the Chimera during large scale attacks.

• Resistance 2
• Resistance: Retribution
• Resistance 3
• Resistance: Burning Skies

Patrol Drones

Patrol Drones are lightly armed with a weapon similar to the Bullseye, which fires at a much faster rate than their earlier counterparts. Patrol Drones can attack in large swarms of up to 20 and they may appear alongside other types of Drones. They are also used in large assaults by the Chimera as they appear during the assault on SRPA Station Igloo. Patrol Drones are common and appear in any situation, whether its patrolling Gray Territory or going into combat.

Patrol Drones has three different eye colors to denote their status: blue means it has not detected any enemy; yellow means it is on alert; red means it is hostile.

In Co-op, Patrol Drones make a unique engine-like sound when they are nearby. This can be used as a warning to their presence.

Strategy

• Patrol Drones are weak to average firearms but make up this setback by their numbers. Use an automatic rifle on them (a Bullseye or Carbine will do) they don't take more than one hit to destroy, but they are small, moving targets.
• A very easy way to dispatch an attacking swarm of Patrol Drones in Resistance 2 is to use the LAARKs secondary fire ability, which fires a large number of miniature, self guiding rockets that target and destroy most, if not all of the Drones in one volley.
• The Bullseye is effective in destroying Patrol Drones at close and medium ranges, while the Carbine is suitable for destroying Patrol Drones at medium and long ranges.

Attack Drones

The Attack Drones are large, heavily armed and armored, and are protected by a type of force-field. Attack Drones are armed with two weapons: a single barreled Bullseye look-alike and a triple barreled mini-rocket launcher. The mini-rockets are equipped with a sabot that can penetrate organic tissue and hard materials before exploding. Apparently, these Drones can be piloted as Sentinel Aaron Hawthorne managed to briefly pilot one in Orick, California. They are first encountered in SRPA III, and fought as bosses in Chicago and SRPA Station Igloo (second visit).

In the cooperative campaign, they appear sometimes as mini-bosses and, unlike in Resistance 2's campaign mode, they are unshielded due to being over-powered. They always appear from a Dropship in Orick if the players are trying to destroy the Stalker prototype in the lumber mill. In Chicago, if shutting down the beacons in the construction yard is the last objective, then two one-star Attack Drones will appear to defend the beacons.

Strategy

• The Bellock's secondary fire is strong enough to destroy an Attack Drone even if it's shield is active, if close enough.

Hunter Drones

The Hunter Drones are medium sized Drones that have a weapon similar to the Bullseye, but fires with much more distance between shots at a fast rate. Like Patrol Drones, they normally attack in swarms, but in lower numbers. They first appear in Bryce Canyon when Hale and several soldiers fight several Ravagers and Hybrids on a bridge. They are then encountered in Chicago a few times, and a lone Hunter Drone appears in the Daedalus's Flagship.

These Drones also make an appearance in a concept art image from Resistance 3.

Strategy

• 3 Fareye shots can take down a single Hunter Drone.
• The Splicer's secondary fire is useful when engaging these Drones.
• The Wraith can also be effective.

Gallery

Patrol Drone

Patrol Drones attacking SRPA Station Igloo.

Attack Drone

An Attack Drone (piloted by Aaron Hawthorne) attacks a group of Hybrids in Orick.

Concept art.

Concept art of the Attack Drone from Resistance 3.

Hunter Drone

Another view of the Hunter Drone.

Trivia

• Drones seem to be a replacement to the Mines.
• Aesthetically, some drones possess multiple yellow eyes much like the Chimera's.
• The Swarm, when zoomed in at with the L23 Fareye, is seemingly compose of a large group of Recon/Patrol Drones with a tail.
• The Hunter Drone is the last drone to appear in the campaign.
• Patrol Drones have three different eye colors to denote their status, with blue and red being the most predominant, and yellow being the rarest due to the circumstances we most often encounter Patrol Drones, which varies depending on whether they are in your territory as defensive or attacking us.

Worker Drones

Worker Drones are simply cheap labor used to supplement the Menials and Boilers as the Chimeran workforce. They are mostly seen operating machinery with some sort of interface beam. They can also be destroyed to unlock some skill points.

Patrol Variant

The Patrol Drone from Resistance: Retribution.

The Patrol Drones are of an earlier variety, thus they are larger and their firing rate is much slower, using charged shots. When damaged enough, they eventually blow up. They use this to their advantage by approaching the player in an attempt to take him/her down with them. Further damage taken by the drone will hasten their destruction.

Hunter Drones

Concept art of a Hunter Drone from Resistance: Retribution.

They are very similar to the ones seen in Resistance 2 but seem to be less advanced. However, they can take a lot of damage and they use miniguns, making them the strongest and deadliest type of Drone in Resistance: Retribution. Like the Patrol variant, they will also blow up shortly after being damaged enough, and will attempt to take down the player when this happens, in the same manner as well. Likewise, damaging it further will speed up it's destruction.

Trivia

• James Grayson refers to Drones as "tin cans".

Shock Drones

The Shock Drone in Resistance 3.

Shock Drones, as their name applies, emit an arc of electricity as their main weapon, and normally attack in swarms. They are not encountered much in the game. They make an appearance only in Wrightsburg and Commitment.

Strategy

• They can be easily destroyed with one shot of the Rossmore Shotgun or with a Bullseye Tag.
• EMP Grenades are extremely effective against groups of Shock Drones.
• It's a good idea to take them out at a distance before they get to you, as they can inflict considerable damage, especially as a swarm.

Enemy Journal

“	Shock Drones serve as small but relentless hunters. They typically move in groups, and tend to scout the areas around larger mechanical hunters, such as the Goliath. Once a Shock Drone has discovered a target, it will lock on and continue to attack until destroyed. Primary Attack - High-powered electrical discharge. Survival Tip: Place a Marksman Mini-turret on the ground along its path of approach-- when the drones approach the turret will attack them continuously.	”

Shield Drones

Shield Drones act as support units for Chimeran infantry, in which they create an invincible force-shield by beaming an energy field that surrounds a Chimera, although they seem to only support Hybrids, Ravagers, and Steelheads. However, Shield Drones are vulnerable and can be destroyed in order to break the Chimera's shields. Outside of combat, Shield Drones will alert nearby Chimera to the presence of hostile forces upon detection. They are encountered more commonly than the Shock variant. They appear from St. Louis onwards to the rest of the game.

Strategy

• The best weapon is the Auger Rifle, as its primary fire can kill a Hybrid even with the Shield Drone supporting it.
• Shield Drones are vulnerable to EMP Grenades.
• When a Shield Drone deploys it's shield on a Chimera, light will surround the latter. This can be used to the player's advantage, as it can giveaway the position of a cloaked Sniper Hybrid.

Enemy Journal

“	Shield drones work in tandem with Chimera, and may also summon additional Chimera to the battlefield. During battle, a Shield Drone will seek out an unprotected Chimera, then hover overhead and project an Energy Shield around the Chimera. Chimera protected by a Shield Drone will not take damage. Destroy the Shield Drone first.	”

Warden Drone

Warden Drones are re-engineered drones captured by the Wardens. They are used to trick the Chimera from finding Graterford Prison by emitting an "all-clear" signal to nearby Chimeran patrols.

Gallery

Shield Drone enemy journal.

A pair of Shield Drones and a Hybrid in St. Louis.

Trivia

• Weapons such as the Mutator or the Cryogun will have no effect on Drones due to their mechanical nature.
• If the player knocks out 25 Shock Drones with an EMP Grenade, they will earn the Bronze Trophy, "Electric Avenue".
• The original name for the Shock Drone was Fighter Drone.

Patrol Drones

Patrol Drones are first seen attacking civilians on Staten Island.

Strategy

• Using the Hunter's secondary ammo is more effective against Drones.

Intel

“	Nancy calls 'em flying garbage cans. And that's exactly what these drones look like. But watch out! When you spot one chances are that there are some more nearby. And nearby they're fast they're hard to hit. That's the bad news. The good news is that you can use a variety of weapons to destroy them. Shotguns, or weapons with a high rate of fire like a Bullseye, or a Mauler work best. Be sure to duck though... When a drone explodes chunks of shrapnel fly in every which way. Nancy bagged three yesterday. How 'bout it ladies? Can you beat that? Never give up, and never give up. - George	”

Recon Drones

Recon Drones are unarmed and high-flying drones, searching alone for enemy positions.

Trivia

• Patrol Drones are the only enemy Drone encountered in Burning Skies.